2004 Suzuki Grand Vitara

Before turning into road-going battleships, SUVs were lightweight, short-wheelbase attack craft designed for nimble maneuvers over off-road obstacles. Eventually excess began to dominate, culminating in gargantuan conveyances such as the GMC Yukon XL or Ford Excursion, which have little or nothing to do with tackling tight trails, and are more about sheer size than anything else. Nobody says you have to own an oversized SUV, and that's where the Suzuki Grand Vitara nicely fills the bill. Despite its canyonesque name, this trucklette is a tidy little package.

The Grand Vitara is the middle sibling of Suzuki's SUV clan, better outfitted than the entry-level model.

Suzuki actually offers three different sport-utility wagons: Vitara, Grand Vitara and XL-7, which range in size although all are at the smaller end of the SUV spectrum. For 2004, all of them have changes in trim designations, new cabin fixtures and more equipment available. Starting with the smallest, the Vitara 4-door gets a power boost from a new 165 horsepower, 2.5-liter V-6 engine and switches the nameplate to Vitara V6 as a reflection of that change. (Suzuki's Vitara 2-door soft-top rig fades away.) Standard equipment on the Vitara V6 extends to air conditioning and power windows/locks/mirrors, a keyless remote entry system, tilt steering wheel and in-dash CD player.


The adjective in the Grand Vitara model designation refers not so much to an increase in size (it's just a bit bigger than the Vitara) as the luxury treatment. The Grand Vitara is the middle sibling of Suzuki's SUV clan, better outfitted than the entry-level model. It runs off the same 2.5-liter V-6, but adds unique exterior dressings and interior equipment. In addition to an impressive list of features, there's a low-range transfer case on the 4WD option. The only other options are a four-speed automatic transmission, antilock brakes, and 16-inch alloy wheels.


The Grand Vitara with V-6 power now comes in the well-equipped LX trim and loaded EX. Both are available in two-wheel-drive (2WD) or 4WD traction. The latter puts a two-speed transfer case in the 4x4 mechanism for shift-on-the-fly convenience when running at highway speed. Cabin appointments range from air conditioning with automatic climate control to power windows and door locks and mirrors, cruise control, a CD deck in the dash with seven speakers and a keyless remote entry system. An optional power tilt-and-slide sunroof is new for 2004.

The Grand Vitara is aimed at customers looking for a mini-SUV that's loaded with amenities usually reserved for the sport-utes of the more expensive midsize class.

If more size matters, Suzuki's largest SUV is the XL-7 (for eXtra Long—), which carries as many as seven passengers (hence the number in the name), on three rows of seats. The cabin stretches about a foot longer than the Grand Vitara, with power from a 183 hp, 2.7-liter V-6. For this review, we tested the Grand Vitara EX with four-wheel drive.